A recent Gallup poll shows 20 percent of Republicans now support Rick Santorum as their party's nominee for president after his three-state sweep of contests on Tuesday.

It means the former Pennsylvania senator is now tied with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who has been losing support.

Both candidates still trail former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who holds 36 percent of support.

Santorum just completed a two-day tour of the Bible belt states of Texas and Oklahoma. In McKinney, Texas, he spoke to an audience of church pastors.

At a stop in Tulsa, Okla., he spoke at Oral Roberts University, where he told the audience his GOP competitors don't seem "particularly comfortable" talking about faith issues as he does.

Some voters find the former senator's beliefs attractive in a presidential candidate.

"His values are my values," said Valerie Benton, a retired teacher from Edmond, Okla. "It's not like he's forcing his beliefs on anybody."

Santorum is expected to find a receptive audience Friday when he addresses the Conservative Political Action Committee's annual gathering in Washington, D.C.